Mexico Family Missions - Mission Updates

Special Report 6.08 by Greg Wilke
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By Greg Wilke Special Report June 2008

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Mexcio Family Missions

MISSION SUPPORT

Often times, as missionaries, we preconceive the notion that our mission will be directly involved with sharing the Gospel. We do share the Gospel, but it is very often the case that we just end up supporting what others are doing, and they share the Gospel. In Bible times, several women supported Jesus (see Luke 8:2, 3 and Matt. 27:55, 56). Often in the New Testament, Paul and his band of servants are mentioned as those who supported and encouraged newly begun ministries.

In the 10 years that we have been involved in missions to Mexico, I have seen many good teams who were here with us and with other missionaries in Mexico. They came to help build something or to go into churches and minister to the Christians. All of this is good, even though it is not the direct preaching of the Gospel.

Our little place is a refuge and a training ground. The weekend times with Petra and Naomi Barnes are meant to give support for The Deaf School in Los Mochis. Weary from the strains of their work at the school, they are renewed and refreshed here, and our prayers went with them each week, as they returned again to Los Mochis. We have also sent visitors to that school. It’s a good way for introducing them to ministry in Mexico. Our hope is that we are a good source of help and support for the directors. Currently, they share the Gospel with over 30 students, and their message spreads to the families of those children, as well. A few of those students don’t have a home where they can go during weekends or school breaks, and that number will be growing if staff increases and new facilities open up for the school. We are praying with them quite regularly to that end. We want to recommend that you check out their web site: www.deafschool.org

Young single people who have been with us are able to have a time of growth. This helps establish them in the direction that Jesus is leading them to serve. These apprenticeships are not so much about how much these youth can get done while they are at the Wilke’s. Marianne and I see that we have only a short time with our children and with these others who come for a season to stay with us. It is a privilege to equip them for opportunities to serve Jesus – opportunities are at hand in their time with us, and also He will lead them to others, for the rest of their lives.

‘Opportunity’ is one of the two symbols that make up the word ‘crisis’ in Chinese. The other symbol is, for a good reason, in the lower place of the word. That symbol stands for ‘problem.’ Together, the two parts of ‘crisis’ outline one of the methods I learned for becoming equipped: One of my superiors here in Mexico taught me, by example, a valuable lesson that I have kept as a tool. I use it often in daily life. Here it is:

This father was giving counsel to his young son who was struggling with a lack of enough motivation to get his math homework done. He said, “Son, do you know why you need to do all these problems? The reason why we do math is so we can be prepared for all the problems that we will be facing for the rest of our lives. Your math practice, now, will help you to find the solutions to whatever will arise in your adult life.” I don’t know how much that boy was listening, but I never forgot that practical tip of discipline.

We become equipped for serving Jesus when we can be grateful to Him, as we are faced with difficult situations, because we know He has a plan. Our hope is that those who come to serve with us will be learning – just as Marianne and I are learning – to see problems as opportunities, not just a ‘crisis’.

Josh and Lacy Webb served with us for 3 months last year. This year they rented a house and started a church in Victoria, a village 5 miles up the road from us. They took in one fatherless youth for awhile. Josh was doing carpentry, and he has really excelled in Spanish this year. A friend of theirs back East helped them record a really nice CD of some of the worship songs they learned with us. If you are interested in this English/Spanish CD, let me know.

Brandon Owen worked with me here in Tucson, this spring, for about a month. We have been so blessed by the 101 small things that Brandon has done to help us out over the years. The one big thing Jill and Brandon have done, which has been a support for this ministry, is just living their lives for Jesus while with us. They really show their love for Him in their marriage and in the training of their children. That has been more encouragement to us than the brand new washer they bought us in 2002. I am not trying to over boast on them, so they lose their rewards in heaven or get offended at me for sharing this. We just want to glorify God, and I believe you will join me in it, as I share, here, the value comparison of who we are, versus what we do for others.

The Owens family did not make it back to live in our village this season. They plan to travel to PA and relocate near Don and Judy Rose. These two couples have been the most frequent partners with us in the field over the years, and we thank God for the unity and love that He has allowed us as couples to be able to grow into. A sweet communion was always there, on our father’s part, ever since I first met Don at a camp meeting in 1996. We have just learned to walk in it, little by little.

This year, Judah led a team into Cambodia, and returned April 4th. After he graduated from the Mandate Discipleship School, he started working in construction at the coast (Oregon) for the summer. Gordon (now 18!) recently took the train from Tucson, here, to stay with Judah there in Toledo. In the fall, Judah will be the Dean at the school.

Fabian is a disciple whom we first met at the High school dorm. He is now the ‘manager’ of the church in the village up in the mountains where he lives with his parents. We visited up there a couple of times this year. We found that, out of eight villages in that area, only two have a gathering. For two weekends, Fabian stayed overnight at our place and attended the Campito Church meeting with our family. We want to continue to support and encourage Fabian. He is also in training with the Evangelical branch of Mennonites.

Marianne flew to S. Korea, May 22. Yes, there is a lot of excitement over this first grandson. She is there partly to help provide care for the baby. But it has also worked out that she could attend the same conference in Seoul that Petra and Titus went to in Chicago. The purpose for this is to be informed and be interceding for God’s will concerning En-kay missions. Titus and his Pastor both spoke. They still operate and orphanage in China. They have been sending support to another ministry that feeds one bread each day to children that live in En-kay. Our son has also been sending “the book” across and there are reports of really good fruit from this. Contact us for more details or if you want to subscribe to his news.

Time and again, Jesus leads us into support ministry. Ones like Fabian might only need a place to stay. Others, like the Webb’s are supported with our prayers and fellowship – they go and share the Gospel were we are not able, due to time and staff.

Yet, we also directly reach out to our fellow Mexican brothers and sisters in the Lord, as well as the lost. In Mexico, Marianne and the ministry team were able to make home visits – for prayer times with the young believers. Also, she and I baptized an elderly believer who was in the hospital a couple months ago. That leads to a story of its own.

A few weeks after we baptized her, this elderly sister, Emilia, passed on to be with Our Lord. Petra, Marianne, and I were able to spend part of an afternoon in Toltecas, sharing the faith of Jesus with a few of the many relatives and the believers who gathered for her funeral. The Catholic priest came and shared – typical Catholic ideas. An Apostolic preacher also shared his thoughts. Basically, he was sharing that, because Emelia had refused baptism when he offered it, he had doubts about her salvation. Their doctrine believes that if you are not baptized, you are not saved. Did he not know she was baptized by us? Many thought that I would share something also, but the family did not ask me to share. I just testified personally to a few, and I shared what I have seen and heard of Jesus, in our life, and I shared about His promises for all who believe. Marianne was able to talk with a relative one-on-one about Emilia’s change in her heart. You see, she was the town drunk! Marianne told about our baptizing her, and her baptism was a sign of what had happened in her heart. We would not have baptized her if we doubted her change of heart was real.

One of our disciples, Paty, had shared much love with her neighbor, Emilia, over the past year, and she gave convalescent care, toward the end. Emilia repented when the Apostolics shared the Gospel with her last fall. Her very ill husband also repented, 4 yrs ago when Titus shared the Gospel in that same home. I remember taking carrot juice over there with Petra in the last days of Manuel Tadeo’s life. The work of mercy is a missionary’s work, too.

We invite you to be praying for the son and daughter-in-law, with whom we are sharing Jesus. Will their children and grandchildren be given more opportunities to hear the Gospel in Toltecas? There are children’s classes, being led by Lacy Webb. The adult gathering of the believers in that village was recently discontinued. Would you pray for Christian leadership among the believers in that village? G.W.

HIGH SCHOOL

I usually meet at the beginning of each year in the offices of the High School principal and the English teacher of the 450 pupils. We would agree beforehand on the best date that we could bring in a team, to share with the English students a cultural and language exchange, along with our Gospel testimonies. Separately, the director of the Dormitory had let us bring in groups, up to once a month, to share movies, music, and testimonies. One year we held a Bible study once a week and 6-7 students attended.

A few weeks ago, I was able to visit the principal of the High School. We were preparing and praying for another team that could return again to the English classes this year. We just found out that last year there was a complaint against us for bringing religion into the school. The English teacher explained that we went too far in passing out the bi-lingual New Testaments. He shared how surprised he was that we had gotten away with our sharing for so many years. The principal told me to come back and try again next year. I assured him that we wanted to respect his authority, and for that reason, we did not pass out any literature that had doctrine from any particular church. The content of our songs and testimonies was undeniable, and we have no regrets for sharing a clear Gospel message with those young people and some of the teachers, for 6 consecutive years.

One of my Elders once shared with me, “A closed door, is another open door somewhere else.” As I left the compound, I wondered if I was correct in purchasing the 2 cases of bi -lingual NT’s that we had intended to give out. Then I saw how useful they could be next fall, if God allows us a place to teach English in that same village.

We have been meeting with the town commissioner and the owner of the lot for sale. We are trying to buy it because of its good location for reaching the Junior and Senor High schooler’s. It is 2 blocks down the street from the High School, and one block from the Junior high. So far, there has never been any paper work on this lot. Do you want to partner in prayer with us for the essential steps to get it developed? The funds have already been donated for the intial purchase. I am considering teaching English classes in the town hall with older Elementary and Jr. High kids, like I did one other year, even if this property and outreach location does not work out right away. G.W.

I have been working here in Tucson for the last 2 weeks. You can reach me at my new cell phone: 520 - 906 - 5744

Here is the new address that we are now using in AZ: 4375 E Trotter Place Tucson AZ 85739

This is not a new location. We have been guests of the Hawkins family here off and on for 3 yrs now, and we are very grateful to God for them. Our old addresses are still current, and we still have vehicles registered in Oregon.

Finally, it is a great privilege for this father to recommend to you again our remodeled web site. Gordon has been working on it. The new photos are from current events, and there will be other photos coming soon, from previous years.

If you or a friend has internet access, you can log onto: http://mexicofamilymissions.com

If you do go to this web site, I am personally inviting you to be reading and commenting on our blog pages. To continue receiving this news, we need to hear from you once a year. May you blessed and challenged in your faith as you read it. G.W.

Special Report 6.08 by Greg Wilke

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